Valerie Woerner, MBA '76

Valerie became CEO of a manufacturing company at 30, growing revenue from $3 million to $100 million over 10 years followed by achieving outstanding results for others. Key strategic elements creating these successes included striking vital collaborative strategic alliances, making difficult, innovative financial decisions, and driving dynamic marketing change, greatly enhancing stakeholders’ equity and company viability. She’s recognized for her passion, financial expertise, curiosity and sand box skills as well as M&A expertise, love of coaching and lifelong learning.

She’s a coach for Ross Executive Education and an experienced and collaborative Board member currently on the Advisory Board of Matot, Inc., a Chicago manufacturing company, the Board of the Capitol Theatre (governance chair elect 2022), and the Board of the Yakima Arts Commission.

In 2018 she completed Deloitte’s 7-month intensive board training. After serving six years on the Board of Larson Fruit Company, in 2017 she was chosen to advise and mediate the company’s sale. Valerie has served on a number of nonprofit and industry boards including VP-Finance for Larson Gallery, Washington State Fruit Commission (Audit chair), Cal State Monterey Bay - Business School Advisory Council, Monterey Historic Preservation Commission, Easter Seals and several ballet companies.

Valerie is currently a Principal at E78 Partners, providing interim CEO and Board services, is CEO of CEO at Your Service and in 2021 assisted in founding The Table, a women’s empowerment and DEI organization. Recently Valerie was nominated and selected as an honoree for Private Company Director magazine’s annual article “15 Directors to Watch” to be published in October 2021.

By request she has taught Business Communications, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Venture Formation and Financial Strategy, Agriculture – Credit and Finance, Labor Supply Economics, Compensation, HR Management and Business Law at two universities.

Valerie earned an MBA - Finance from Ross, University of Michigan and a BA in Psychology, also from Michigan. She’s devoted to ballet, performing, travel, family and friends and contributing to positive change.